The Broncos line is going through a bit of a transition at the tackle positions with last year’s first-round draft pick George Foster moving into the starting role at left tackle as Matt Lepsis makes the transition from right tackle to the left side. Foster missed all but one game of his rookie season with injuries and he struggled to stay healthy in college, so durability is a concern. However, he is a good athlete and has the potential to be a dominating run blocker. Lepsis is probably a better fit on the left side, so the transition should not be a real difficult one for him.
A solid nucleus remains intact in the middle with Tom Nalen at center, Ben Hamilton at left guard and Dan Neil lining up at right guard. Knee injuries have robbed the 32-year-old Nalen of some mobility, but he is a team leader who rarely makes a mistake and is still an excellent pass blocker. Neil is a perfect fit for Denver’s zone-blocking scheme, but he is starting to show signs that his skills are slipping. However, he has the versatility to play center in a pinch and probably has a couple good years left in him. Hamilton doesn’t have prototypical size for an offensive guard, but he has the strength to overpower defenders in the run game and hold his ground against power rushers. He’s also just 27-years old and still getting better.
Defensive Line
The defensive line suffered a bit of a loss during the off-season when Bertrand Berry signed with the Arizona Cardinals, which means they will have to look elsewhere for the 11 ½ sacks he produced in 2003. Veteran Trevor Pryce will start at left defensive end and Reggie Hayward, who recorded 8 ½ sacks last season, will move into the starting spot at right end for the Broncos. Raylee Johnson and Marco Coleman were also brought in during the off-season to compete for playing time as situational pass rushers.
Darius Holland and Mario Fatafehi did a nice job at the tackle positions last season, along with Monsanto Pope as the third man in the rotation. And the interior defense appears to have gotten better with the addition of free agent Luther Eliss. The incumbent trio are hardly household names, but they were very effective in 2003. Eliss is the healthiest he has been for a while, but he is on the downside of his career and is probably better suited as a wave type player at this point of his career, so he should be a nice complement to this group.
Linebackers
Al Wilson returns as a very solid and versatile middle linebacker, but gone are both of last year’s starters on the outside, Ian Gold and John Mobley. This year’s first-round draft pick D.J. Williams will line up on the weak side with Donnie Spragan penciled in on the strong side. Spragan is solid against the run, but he is better suited as a backup. Coaches are hoping last year’s second-round pick Terry Pierce can challenge for playing time this season.
Williams’ potential appears to be limitless. He has all the physical skills you look for in a linebacker. He is an excellent athlete. He has the strength to take on offensive linemen and the speed to range from sideline to sideline. He also has the ability to be effective in pass coverage or rushing the quarterback. He wraps up well on tackles, and is the type of player that always seems to be around the ball.
Secondary
The Broncos will go into the season with 11 defensive backs -- five safeties and six cornerbacks. Of course, the biggest addition was the acquisition of CB Champ Bailey , who immediately upgrades a weak secondary. He has the ability to completely shut down other teams’ No. 1 receivers and he’s not afraid to come up in run support. Lenny Walls will move to the right side this year where he won’t have the pressure of covering teams’ top receivers, and Kelly Herndon will likely play in nickel situations.
Veteran safety John Lynch was also brought in during the off-season, and his experience and leadership should also boost Denver’s secondary. He has never possessed blazing speed and has lost a step the last couple years, but he is a smart player and should have a couple good years left in him. Kennoy Kennedy will also occupy a starting safety position, and while he is solid against the run, he lacks speed and is a liability in coverage.
Overview
The Broncos appear to me to be a team on the fence. If some young guys come through and they avoid injury, they could be a playoff team and challenge for the division title. However, there are significant concerns on both sides of the ball and if the team doesn’t get them ironed out, they could be sitting at home for the playoffs again this year.
The biggest concerns are probably the lack of proven weapons at receiver and tight end, along with the transition at offensive tackle. How Plummer adjusts to the changes could be an early indicator as to how the season will go... especially if the pass protection breaks down as the receivers struggle to get open.
